Skin conditioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for conditioning the skin with the use of a facial sauna unit having an open top for receiving the face, neck or other body part to be conditioned wherein the apparatus utilizes a pad saturated or soaked with a material containing oils, proteins and an emulsifying agent. The pad is supported in the sauna unit across the path of the rising steam or water vapor therein. As the water vapor passes through the pad and exits therefrom, particles of the material are carried therewith for contact with the skin of the face, neck or other body part which extends across the open top of the unit.

rte tates Patent 1 1 3,712,307 McLaughlin 1 Jan. 23, 1973 [5 l SKIN CONDITIONING APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp [76] Inventor: Veronica l-l. McLaughlin, 5521 El Atwmey TwnSend&Townsend Sereno, Los Altos, Calif. 94022 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1971 Appl. No.: 174,832

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,152,240 l0/l964 Scott ..l28/368 X 3,351,737 11/1967 Katzman et al ..2l9/27l Apparatus for conditioning the skin with the use of a facial sauna unit having an open top for receiving the face, neck or other body part to be conditioned wherein the apparatus utilizes a pad saturated or soaked with a material containing oils, proteins and an emulsifying agent. The pad is supported in the sauna unit across the path of the rising steam or water vapor therein. As the water vapor passes through the pad and exits therefrom, particles of the material are carried therewith for contact with the skin of the face, neck or other body part which extends across the open top of the unit.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 23 I973 INVENTOR- VERONICA HMC LAUGHUN BY ATTORNEYS SKIN CONDITIONING APPARATUS This invention relates to improvements in the conditioning of the skin, especially in the areas of the face, chin and neck and, more particularly, to a facial'sauna unit having means for providing the application of an oil-based moistener to the skin.

In a conventional facial sauna unit, water vapor or steam is directed upwardly within an open top transparent shield from a steam generating unit in the base of the unit so that, when the face or other body part is across the open top of the shield and if the generating means is energized, water vapor rising in the shield will contact the face. The water vapor thus has the effect of moistening the skin of the face as well as providing a cleaner feeling while giving a generally more healthful appearance to the skin.

It has now been found that the skin conditioning capabilities of a facial sauna unit can be further enhanced by placing a medium, such as a pad containing an oil-based material across the path of the rising water vapor in the shield of the unit so that the water vapor will pass through the medium and will carry particles of the material upwardly with it and into contact with the skin. As a result, the material as well as the water vapor penetrates the skin and provides a conditioning effect therefor which is more soothing than achieved with the use of water vapor alone. The combination of the water vapor and the material works to help smooth out wrinkles and the like and results in a more healthful appearance for the user of the unit. It also serves to make the skin more supple and restores plumpness to skin tissue that has been depleted by age or by dryness.

The present invention is directed to the accomplishment of the foregoing purposes by providing an assembly for a facial sauna unit which includes a pad or other porous medium which is saturated or soaked with the oil-based material which is to be absorbed in the skin, and means for supporting the pad in the path of flow of the water vapor generated by the unit. This arrangement permits the rising water vapor to pass into and through the pad and to carry off particles of the oilbased material upwardly and away from the pad and towards and into contact with the skin. The supporting means can include a mesh, such as of plastic, spaced above the surface of the unit from which water vapor emanates. A layer of filter paper permeable to the water vapor is placed on the support to prevent any substantial dripping of the material from the pad while allowing the water vapor to permeate and pass through the pad.

The primary object of this invention is, therefore, to provide an improved skin conditioning apparatus wherein a pad saturated or soaked with an oil-based material is positioned across the path of the flow of water vapor in a facial sauna unit so that the water vapor, upon passing through the pad, will carry particles of the material upwardly therewith and into contact with the skin to thereby condition the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment for a facial sauna unit wherein a pad soaked with an oil-based material has a support permitting it to be placed within the path of rising water vapor in a facial sauna unit so that the water vapor will pass through the pad and carry particles of the material upwardly therewith and into contact with the skin.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the .following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing for an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the skin conditioning apparatus of this invention, showing the way in which it is used;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side elevational view, partly broken away, of the skin conditioning apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of the assembly utilizing a pad soaked with an oil-based material and a support for placing the pad in the path of rising water vapor in a facial sauna unit.

The skin conditioner of this invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 10 and includes a facial sauna unit 12 comprised of a base 14 and a transparent shield 16 secured to and extending upwardly from the base. Shield 16 has an open top 18 for receiving the face or body part whose skin is to be conditioned by water vapor or steam generated by the unit. Water vapor rising from base 14 and passing upwardly through shield 16 can thereby contact the skin and permeate the same so as to condition it. A water vapor generator 20 is disposed in base 14 and is adapted to be coupled to a source of electrical power by means of a power cord 22. Means (not shown) is provided to receive a small quantity of water in the base for use in generating the water vapor. Base 14 has an upper plate 24 which is perforated to present one or more openings 26 through which water vapor can pass as it rises due to convection.

To carry out the teachings of this invention, an assembly 27 comprising a perforate support 28, a layer of water permeable material 36, and a porous, absorbent pad 38 is placed in the sauna unit on base 14 and within the path of the rising water vapor. Assembly 27 numer serves as an attachment for the sauna unit.

Support 28 can be of any suitable construction but, for purposes of illustration, it is comprised of a mesh or screen 30 which, for purposes of illustration, is of plastic material and has a substantially circular configuration and is provided with an outer peripheral ring 32 from which a number of short legs 34 depend. The legs rest on plate 24 and space wire mesh 30 above base 14 and across the path of water vapor rising therefrom.

Layer 36 is comprised of filter paper or the like and is disposed on wire mesh 30 to support pad 38 from beneath. Pad 38 is saturated or otherwise soaked with an oil-based material which, for purposes of illustration, can comprise a mixture of wheat germ oil, lecithin and liquid vitamin A. Such material absorbed in pad 38 is denoted in the numeral 39 in FIG. 3. Other mixtures can be used as desired.

Pad 38 may be of any suitable construction. For purposes of illustration, it includes a layer of cotton and a sheet of cotton gauze surrounding the cotton. Both the cotton layer and the gauze render pad 38 porous and absorbent.

Layer 36 is, for purposes of illustration, formed from the same material used in making filters for certain types of coffee makers. Such material effectively keeps the oil-based material from dripping yet allows water vapor to pass therethrough and into pad 38 from which it carries particles of the oil-based material toward and into contact with the skin to provide a conditioning action therefor. The pad does not block the entire path of the rising steam. Thus, some of the rising water vapor can pass about the sides of layer 36 and pad 38 and contributes to the overall skin conditioning effect.

In use, assembly 27 is placed in the sauna unit within shield 16 and on plate 24 so that pad 38 is across the path of the rising water vapor. With generator energized, water vapor is formed and caused to pass upwardly through openings 26, through layer 36 and pad 38 and then upwardly toward open top 18. The user places the face, neck or other body portion across the open top and the rising water vapor through pad 38 carries particles of the oil-based material upwardly therewith and onto the skin of the body part. The particles of the oil-based material are essentially suspended in the water vapor stream so that the combination of the two provides a vapor which is absorbed in the skin giving a soothing feeling as well as softer skin, rendering it more supple and restoring plumpness to the skin. After use, generator 20 is deenergized and assembly 27 is removed from the sauna unit. Pad 38 can be used over again and can be replenished with the oil-based material, as desired. Generally, layer 36 will be suitable .for only a single use but can be placed on a new such layer 36 and used again.

While mesh 30 is described as having legs 34, it is to be understood that other means of supporting pad 38 can be provided if desired. Forinstance, plate 34 may have upwardly extending projections on which mesh 30 can rest. Thus, there would be no need for legs 34 on ring 32.

lclaim:

1.'Skin conditioning apparatus comprising: a facial sauna unit having means for generating a stream of water vapor and an opening for positioning a body part across the path of said water vapor stream; and porous means between said generating means and the opening and across said path for containing a quantity of an oilbased material, whereby said water vapor will pass through said porous means and carry portions of said material therewith toward said opening.

2. Skin conditioning apparatus comprising: a facial sauna unit having means for generating a stream of water vapor and an opening for positioning a body part across the path of said water vapor stream; a porous absorbent pad; a quantity of a liquid, oil-based material in the pad; and means across said path and between said generating means and the opening for supporting the pad whereby water vapor can pass through the pad and carry portions of the material out of the same and toward said opening when the material is absorbed in the pad.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said supporting means includes a perforate support, and a layer of water vapor-permeable material on said support, said pad being placed on said layer, the latter being operable to prevent any substantial dripping of said oilbased material from the pad when the material is absorbed therein and when the pad is across said stream.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said support includes a mesh having a number of spaced legs,

said mesh bein removably disposed in the unit.

5. An attac ment for a acial sauna unit having means for generating a stream of water vapor comprising: a porous, absorbent pad; a quantity of an oil-based liquid material saturating the pad; and a support means for positioning the pad in the facial sauna unit across the path of said stream of water vapor.

6. An attachment as set forth in claim 5, wherein said support includes a mesh having a number of spaced legs thereon, and a layer of water-vapor permeable material on the mesh, said pad being removably disposed on said layer.

7. An attachment as set forth in claim 6, wherein said layer is formed from filter paper. 

1. Skin conditioning apparatus comprising: a facial sauna unit having means for generating a stream of water vapor and an opening for positioning a body part across the path of said water vapor stream; and porous means between said generating means and the opening and across said path for containing a quantity of an oil-based material, whereby said water vapor will pass through said porous means and carry portions of said material therewith toward said opening.
 2. Skin conditioning apparatus comprising: a facial sauna unit having means for generating a stream of water vapor and an opening for positioning a body part across the path of said water vapor stream; a porous absorbent pad; a quantity of a liquid, oil-based material in the pad; and means across said path and between said generating means and the opening for supporting the pad whereby water vapor can pass through the pad and carry portions of the material out of the same and toward said opening when the material is absorbed in the pad.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said supporting means includes a perforate support, and a layer of water vapor-permeable material on said support, said pad being placed on said layer, the latter being operable to prevent any substantial dripping of said oil-based material from the pad when the material is absorbed therein and when the pad is across said stream.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said support includes a mesh having a number of spaced legs, said mesh being removably disposed in the unit.
 5. An attachment for a facial sauna unit having means for generating a stream of water vapor comprising: a porous, absorbent pad; a quantity of an oil-based liquid material saturating the pad; and a support means for positioning the pad in the facial sauna unit across the path of said stream of water vapor.
 6. An attachment as set forth in claim 5, wherein said support includes a mesh having a number of spaced legs thereon, and a layer of water-vapor permeable material on the mesh, said pad being removably disposed on said layer.
 7. An attachment as set forth in claim 6, wherein said layer is formed from filter paper. 